July 09, 2026 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- Sempra Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Sempra, has announced that its ECA LNG Phase 1 project in Ensenada, Mexico, has successfully loaded and shipped its first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG), marking a key milestone as the project moves toward full commercial operations.

The first shipment comes amid continued growth in global LNG demand and positions the facility as a new export source for North American natural gas. Once commercial operations begin, ECA LNG Phase 1 will become the first LNG liquefaction facility on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, offering exporters a shorter shipping route to Asia and other Pacific Basin markets. The location is expected to reduce transit times, lower transportation costs and improve supply reliability while providing customers with greater access to competitively priced US natural gas.

ECA LNG Phase 1 is a joint venture between Sempra Infrastructure and TotalEnergies and comprises a single liquefaction train with a nameplate capacity of 3.25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). The project is backed by long-term sale and purchase agreements with TotalEnergies and Mitsui & Co.

The project is expected to achieve substantial completion during the summer of 2026, with commercial operations and deliveries under long-term sales agreements set to begin shortly afterwards. Development of a larger second phase at the Ensenada site is also underway.

ECA LNG forms part of Sempra Infrastructure’s dual-coast LNG portfolio, with export projects spanning the US Gulf Coast and Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The company said the network is designed to provide customers with greater flexibility and reliability as global demand for competitively priced US natural gas continues to increase.